Vehicle bumper tow clamp



May 2, 1950 v H. c. RIEMANN ET AL 2,506,109

l VEHICLE BUMPER Tow CLAMP Filed March l0, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet l f2 23 Isi --27 0% A rToRA/Ens.

.May 2, 1950 H. c. RIEMANN ET AL 2,506,109

VEHICLE BUMPER TOW CLAMP Filed March l0, 1947 I 2 Sheets-Sheet? IN VENTORS Patented May 2, 1,950

" STA-r Es oFFifcE;

Bolmes; -lliilwaukcc,fWia,aSsienrS--tc The ,Flilr tonr Company; WestAllis, Wis.,.a corporation Our iriventionrelatesin general--toimprovements in Vdevices for interconnecting-A two*v normallyindependent vehicles infa'manner; whereby one `may behauled by theother, and relates more specifically to improvements inthe Iconstruction and' operation of tow clamps adaptedto be attachedf'toabumper of: either or both ofthe vehi clesl involved. j l

'Ijhe primary object of this invention `iste pro-A vide-an'improvedvehicle' bumper tow clamp which isisimple Vand durable'in construction,and which iscalsohighly effective and-reliable in use.

Many-different typesof sof-called towcouplings orA clamps intended forconvenient attachment to-f the front' or rear transverse bumper bars ofautomobiles in order to provide a haulage connection withanothervehicle, have heretofore been, proposed and utilizedgbut because of; thevaried cross-sectional shapes and sizesf kthe bumpers-of thevariouspleasure cars and trucks, and with which these tow clamps mustnecessarily becooperable, `the, priordeviceswereinsuiciently flexible toeffectivelyA coact with the different bumper designs; 'and their utility:was theregore extremely limited, Aside fromthis lack-oimflexi-A bilityinadaptation, these prior towlcouplings Wereleither too complicated #andcumbersometo manipulate; or they were too;l weak toV withstand the shock-andabnormal pull, @or theyl were too costly to manufacture and sellatmoderateipricesl The; previous bumper tow-'clamps havethereioifefailed to become popular with the trade; princi-1 pally due totheirrestricted usefulness and unsafe constructions c. ,Y o

It is therefore an important-,object of ourpiesent` invention, toprovide an improvedv tow'claip adaptedffor quick and A convenientattachment' to theA bumpersY of`- most of the present standardautomabilesg,` andv which when properly attached aords a-durable vand-"safe vehicle'haling conL nection.

Y Another @meer ofi! our iiiveiiu'onisi't previas aisiinp'le, compactand readily adjllslablefvhiole bumper clamp which maybe universallymovably associated with a trailerV or with a draftvehicle solas toprovide a highly'efcient haulagecon'- nection or coupling. n e YAfurther objectof-theinvention is to provide an Vimproved bumper clampingunit; which" is exceedingly ilexible in its adaptations, and which bemanufacturedat moderatev costah'd 'effectively vapplied for diverseus'es.` K l till another 4obje'ctfof thisinvention isv to p`ro' vide asimple and ineiipen'siv'e automobile 'towingr accessory oflgre'atstrength, which may be con; reniently applied tovl and-removed frombumpers of diverseA shapes and' dimensions; with'f ut'rr'i'ost safetywithputf marringV or dana'gin-g the bumper bars and adjacent structur.'

2H Y e Y These and otherspecific objects and advantages offline-presentimprovement will be apparent vfrom thegfollowingfdetaileddescription. pY. A" clear' conception of Vthe lfeatures" constituting' our 'vpresentinvention,` and ofV themode of constructing and of 'Y utilizingvehicle bumperl tow clamps 'embodying-vthieimprovements, may bev had byreferring tothe-drawings aocompanyingy andformingfapart of thisspecification andin which like'reference' characters designate the--saicie` or similar partsin-thevariousgviews.

Fig: l is a-central vertical-section throng-hone of our improved-towclamps; showing-the same cooperating? with a'b'all andgsocket typeofcou-4v plingmand clampingly engaging -afbumper bar of the classapplied to-modern/-Oldsmobile'auto-1 mobilesg- Y ,A Y

y, Figa 2- isa top View of the bumper clamp assemblage adjusted tocorrespond-With the'sh'ovvfin'g mEg-l Y. v

v li g.=.3 isy a vside elevation ofltheirprovedtow" clamp unit properlyadjustedland appliedt'o a bumper bar of the'class applied to IiiodernAFord automobiles, the bumper bar being shown in seoi tion.; ancll n Figs1f-is anotherside'elevationOfthe'irnpi'ved bumper clampingy towunitproperlyadjusted and applied Y to" a v bumper bar' ofA th'efcla'ssvappliedfto mooie/rnY Hudson" autfrfiobiles; the"V bump-er" bai'alsobeing.shownfinsectiorig y While theimprovedvehiclebuiifiper towclamp assembly has been illustrated`- as" having been appliedtoonlyethree'diif'ernt classes or stilles of automobile" bumpers;r it` isnot ourv desire'or intention to 4tlleleloy lilfiiI'v the utility 0flthese clamps, Y since "they are just asreadily and efec'tivelyapplicable'to the bumpers o'fmany other types? of cars" such"asthef" ('Jadil'lac, Plymo'iitl'i; Chevrolet, Dodge; DeSoto, Chrysler,Pontiac', Mer-' ciiry;v Lincbciln Packard, Buick, Kaiser, Frazer, andperhaps also bthe'r'sl y Referring? tov 'the' drawings; n our improvedbumpefcia'mp as shown therein,- comprisesi general aiiinvertedfUy-shapcd"draft frame Ihavi ingladecker platform 1j at' oneend and'aiiedupwardlyopen sockets 8` formed in its' opposite sidewalls near theplatform 'I;A a` transverse bracket I0 rigidly'lattached'to andspanning. the gapbetween the frame wallsfg'remote from. the platform" Tand beingv prov'idedwith" a' bearing platehaving a medial lowerprojection I I extend-- ing'towa'rd the' framel platform while itsluppermostY portion is. provided witha curved or fori wardlyariddownwardly inclined bearing surface lz; j e" ,pair of surf rubber' pacsr or bleeks- |4g se: cured to the opposite outer side portions of thebracket 'I Il; an' upper" arcuate" clamping 'jaw ,I5 hating a'nerviddemping hook' jl.s jankia'` -erft '"1 g'obv' "I 1 l and adjacent`op'p"site lower) 'sible *'S'i faces I8 adapted to coact respectivelywith the bracket projection II and contact surface I2, the jaw I alsobeing provided with a series of spaced openings I9 for interchangeablyreceiving a stud or bolt which coacts with the bracket I6; an elongatedmember or U-bolt 22 swingably suspended from the frame 6 at the sockets8 and having clamping nuts 23 coacting with each of its threadedswinging ends 24; and a lower transverse clamping jaw 25 having aclamping hook 26 extending across and beneath the upper jaw hook I6 andbeing provided with spaced side portions 21 which are pierced by thethreaded U-bolt ends 24 and are cooperable with the nuts 23 to firmlyclamp bumper bars 2B of diverse shapes and sizes between the jaw hooksI6, 26 and against the resilient blocks I4.

The main frame 6 may be formed of heavy sheet metal with the aid ofpunches and dies, and the horizontal deck or platform 1 is provided witha central hole 30 for facilitating attachment of a coupling or draftmember t0 the bumper clamping unit. As shown, the attaching bolt 3| ofthe ball member 32 of a universal ball-and-socket type draft coupling33, has been inserted through the frame deck hole 36, and the sphericalmember 32 has been clamped to the platform 1 with the aid of a lockwasher 34 and a, nut 35 coacting with the bolt 3I, see Fig. 1. Theplatform 1 is formed integral with the opposite depending side walls 9,and since the saddle sockets 8 are disposed closely adjacent to framedeck, they will be rigidly retained in true axial alinement at alltimes. The bracket I0 may also be formed of durable sheet metal with theaid of punches and dies, and the opposite ends of this bracket Il] arepreferably rmly attached to the adjacent edges of the frame walls 9 byheavy welds 31, thereby thoroughly reenforcing and stiffening-the frameassemblage. Y

The laterally spaced resilient reaction blocks I 4 are preferablyfor-med of relatively stili or hard rubber, but they should besufficiently pliable so that they will distort as shown in Figs. 1, 3and 4 when a bumper is pressed and clamped thereagainst. These rubberblocks I4 may be rmly secured to the opposite flat ends of the bracketI0 by means of rivets 38 shown in Figs. 3 and 4, or otherwise, and theheads of these rivets 38 should be embedded Within the blocks IB inorder to avoid metal to metal Contact with the bumpers. The extreme endof the bracket projection l I and the upper contact surface I2 Should berelatively smooth and so positioned that they will firmly cooperate withthe central groove I1 and side 4 clamped in position as shown in Fig. 1,to firmly maintain the jaw I5 in the desired position of adjustment. TheU-bolt 22 which is pivotally suspended in the frame sockets 8, and whichcarries the lower jaw 25, is swingable about these socekts 8 so as tomove the jaw 25 and its clamping hook 26 back and forth, and the nuts 23are adjustable along the threaded U-bolt ends 24 to place the lower jaw25 in any desired position along the U-bolt 22, thus also providing anextensive range of adjustment of the jaw 25 and hook 26. The nuts 23 maybe applied either as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, or as illustrated in Figs.

surfaces I8 respectively of the arcuate clamping jaw I5, and the jaw I5may be likewise formed of heavy sheet metal .with the aid of punches anddies. The hook I6 is formed integral with the upper end of the jaw I5,and the lower end of the jaw I5 may be bent outwardly to provide a stop39 cooperable with the transverse portion of the U-bolt 22 to preventthe jaw I5 from being pulled out of the clamp assemblage.

The clamping stud 25 snugly fits and may be welded within a central hole4I! formed in the bracket I0, and is adapted to cooperate with any ofthe series of openings i9 formed in the arcuate jaw I5. When the arcuatejaw I5 is removed from the i'lxed stud 26, it may be shifted so as tobring any desired opening I9 into axial alinernent with this stud, thusproviding an extensive range of adjustment for the upper jaw I5 and itsclamping hook I6. The stud 2U may thereafter be inserted into theselected opening I9 and 3 and 4, and coact with the lower jaw portions21 to lock this jaw assemblage in adjusted position.

When the various parts of the improved bumper clamping unit, have beenproperly constructed as above described, they may be assembled andrelatively adjusted to t the bumper bars of various types ofautomobiles, by merely initially adjusting and properly positioning theupper clamping jaw I5, and by thereafter adjusting and manipulating thelower jaw 25. As shown in Fig. l, the improved assemblage has beenapplied and clamped firmly to a standard Oldsmobile bumper bar 28, theupper edge of which has been clamped within the upper jaw hook I6, andthe lower edge of which has likewise been clamped within the lower jawhook 26, while the intermediate ridge portion of the bar 28 is pressedagainst the rubber blocks I4 with suflicient presure to indent theseresilient blocks and to hold the bar edges firmly within the hooks I6,26. As depicted in Fig. 3, the improved unit has been likewise appliedand rmly clamped to a standard Ford bumper bar 28', with the upper edgeof the bumper clamped within the upper hook IB, and the lower edgeclamped within the lower hook 26, while the upper medial portion of thebar 28' is pressed against the resilient blocks I4 with pressuresufficient to deform these blocks and to hold the bar edges firmlywithin the hooks I6, 26. As illustrated in Fig. 4, the improved toWclamp has been applied and rmly clamped to a standard Hudson bumper 28,so that the upper bar edge is clamped within the upper hook I6, and thelower bar edge is clamped within the lower hook 26, While the upperintervening portion of the bar 28" is pressed against the resilientblocks I4 with force sufficient to distort the blocks and to hold thebar edges rmly within the'clamping hooks I6, 26.

The improved device may be thus quickly and conveniently applied andrmly clamped to various other styles and sizes of bumper bars, by merelyinitially adjusting the upper jaw I5 to accommodate varying horizontalwidths in the bumper cross-sections, and by thereafter adjusting thelower jaw 25 along the threaded ends of the U-bolt and swinging thisbolt fore or aft so as to cause the hooks 26 to'properly engage thelower bumper edge, and by finally manipulating the nuts 23 so as toeffect firm clamping attachment of the unit to the bumper bar. The threepoint contact afforded by the edge engaging hooks I6, 26 and by theintermediate blocks I4, combined with the resiliency of the latter,insures continued rm attachment of the appliance Without permittingundesirable looseness or rattling of parts, and the resilient metallicconstruction of the lower jaw 25 and of the anges 21 serves to lock thenuts 23 in adjusted clamping position. Any desired type of draftmechanism, other than the ball-and-socket coupling 33 specically shown,may be applied to the mainframe 6 either at the hole 3D or elsewhere,and the towing unit may be associated either with the front or rearbumper bars of diverse vehicles.

From the foregoing detailed description of our invention, it should beapparent that We have in fact produced a vehicle bumper tow clamp whichbesides being simple, compact and durable in conn struction, is alsohighly eflicient in use and extremely exible in its adaptations. Themain frame 6, bracket It, upper clamping jaw l5, and lower clamping jaw25 may all be readily produced from heavy sheet metal and at moderatecost, with the aid of punches and dies; and except for the resilientpads or blocks is, all of the other parts comprising bolts and nuts areof relatively standard construction. The jaws l5, 25 may however be.formed of materials other than sheet metal, without departing from thepresent invention, and it has in fact been found desirable in someinstances to form the lower jaw 25 of a casting in order to insureadequate bearing surface at the U-bolt 22. The improved assemblage issafely and readily applicable to the bumpers of most standardautomobiles, with the aid of an ordinary Wrench, and may be carried inthe tool boxes of cars and trucks as an accessory always ready forconvenient use especially in case of emergency. The improved towingattachment may be applied to plated and polished bumpers withoutdamaging or marring the same, and has been found highly satisfactory andsuccessful in actual use. By utilizing a universal coupling 33 inconjunction with our improved toW clamp, the unit is relieved ofdangerous abnormal stresses which might otherwise tend to bend the metalparts, and the use of such a ball-and-socket coupling 33 makes thebumper clamp well adapted for trailer haulage purposes.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit this inventionto the exact details of construction or to the precise mode of use,herein shown and described, for various modifications -vvithin the scopeof the appended claims may occur to persons skilled in the art; and itis also contemplated that specic descriptive terms employed herein begiven the broadest possible interpretation consistent with thedisclosure.

We claim:

l. A vehicle bumper tow clamp comprising, a draft frame having a wallprovided with a transverse pivot socket and also having a bracketextending transversely of the wall and provided With a resilient bumperengaging block disposed rearwardly of the socket, an elongated memberswingably suspended from said socket and having a lower bumper clampingjaw suspended from its lower swinging end and adjustable toward and awayfrom the socket, said bracket having a bearing -plate provided with anupper downwardly and forwardly inclined bearing surface locatedforwardly of said block, and an upper bumper clamping jaw having anelongated similarly inclined supporting surface movable along saidbearing surface and adjustably attachable to said plate.

2. A vehicle bumper tow clamp comprising, a draft frame having a wallprovided with a transverse pivot socket and also having a bracketextending transversely of the wall and provided with a resilient bumperengaging block disposed rearwardly of the socket, an elongated memberswingably suspended from said socket and havin?,r a lower bumperclamping jaw suspended from its lower swinging end and adjustable towardand away from the socket, said bracket having a bearing plate providedwith an upper downwardly and forwardly inclined bearing surface locatedforwardly of said block and said plate having an upwardly extendingprojection thereon, and an upper bumper clamping jaw having an elongatedsimilarly inclined supporting surface and a recess cooperable with saidprojection and `being movable along said bearing surface and adjustablyattach-able to said plate.

3. A vehicle bumper tow clamp comprising, a draft frame having spacedwalls each provided with a transverse pivot socket and also having abracket spanning the space between said walls and provided with aresilient bumper engaging block disposed rearwardly of the sockets, anelongated member swingably suspended from said sockets and having alower bumper clamping jaw sgspended from its lower swinging end and ad--justable toward and away from the sockets, said bracket vhaving abearing plate provided with an upper downwardly and forwardly inclinedbearing surface located forwardly of said block, and an upper bumperclamping jaw having an elonvgl-,ated similarly inclined supportingsurface movable along said inclined bearing surface and adjustablyattachable to said plate.

4. A vehicle bumper tow clamp comprising, a draft frame having spacedwalls each provided with a transverse pivot socket and also having abracket spanning the space between said walls and provided with aresilient bumper engaging block disposed rearwardly of the sockets, anelongated member swingably suspended from said sockets and having alower bumper clamping jaw suspended from its lower swinging end andadjustable toward and away from the sockets, said bracket having abearing plate provided with an upper downwardly and forwardly inclinedbearing surface located forwardly of said block and said plate having anupwardly extending projection thereon, and an upper bumper clamping jawhaving an elongated similarly inclined supporting surface and a centralrecess cooperable with said plate projection and being movable alongsaid bearing surface and adjustably attachable to said plate.

5. A vehicle bumper tow clamp comprising, a draft frame having spacedwalls each provided with a transverse pivot socket and also having abracket spanning the space between said walls and provided with aresilient bumper engaging block disposed rearwardly of the sockets, aninverted U-bolt swingably suspended from said sockets and having a lowerbumper clamping jaw suspended from its lower swinging end and adjustabletoward and away from the sockets, said bracket having a bearing plateprovided with an upper convexly arcuate surface generated about a centerlocated below and rearwardly of the bumper engaging face of said block,and an upper bumper clamping jaw having an elongated similarly arcuatesupporting surface movable along said bearing surface and adjustablyattachable to said plate.

HOWARD C. RIEMANN. HENRY G. BOLMES.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Thorp Dec. 22, 1942Number n 2,306,007

